Sometimes a narrow loss is nearly as good as a win. Sometimes the greatest player in the world wrecks your day. Sometimes he saves your rear.

On one of the weirdest and tensest days in U.S. soccer history, the U.S. men's national team advanced to the knockout round of the World Cup by one of the slightest margins possible.

The U.S. lost 1-0 to Germany on Thursday, but the Americans made it to the World Cup's round of 16 on goal differential as Portugal defeated Ghana, 2-1. WSJ sports editor Geoff Foster explains the victory on the News Hub with Sara Murray. Photo: Getty Images.

The U.S. lost 1-0 to Germany here on Thursday afternoon. But Portugal's concurrent 2-1 win over Ghana more than 1,000 miles away in Brasília sent the Americans to the round of 16—a destination that seemed inevitable a few days ago, but transformed into one of the great nail-biters in recent U.S. sports history. Portugal and the U.S. finished even on points in Group G—this year's Group of Death—at four apiece, but the U.S. had an even goal differential while Portugal finished with minus-3. The U.S. will play next on Tuesday in Salvador against the Group H winner, Belgium.

The loss-equals-a-win result was the exclamation point on a bizarre day.

The players awoke to a deluge that flooded this city on the northeast coast of Brazil and prevented many of their families from even making it to the stadium. They weren't allowed to warm up on the field for fear it would damage the spongelike grass. They spent the final half-hour of the game getting score updates on the Portugal-Ghana game while trying to hold off one of the most fearsome and skilled teams on the planet. Athletes programmed to focus only on winning were desperate for a tie, and once Portugal had a lead, simply needed to avoid a lopsided loss.

Can Team USA withstand an assault from the energetic Team Belgium? Jeff Agoos, former U.S. men's soccer team player and the technical director for Major League Soccer in New York, joins Lunch Break with Tanya Rivero with his insights. Photo: Getty

"As much as you want to go and push the game, you also have to be smart because a draw gets you through," said captain Clint Dempsey. "It's not like a normal game."

This especially rang true once Ghana pulled even with Portugal, setting the stage for the Black Stars to eliminate the U.S. with one more goal. Defender Matt Besler, who was getting score updates from goalkeeper Tim Howard, saw coach Chris Woods flash a 2-1 score with his fingers to Howard, though without saying which team had scored. "I looked at Tim, and I was like, 'Well that doesn't help us very much,'" Besler said. "Then I saw him give the thumbs up," Besler said of the sign that let him know Portugal was on top.

When the U.S. game ended, the Americans shook hands and wandered around the middle of the field waiting for the official word. It came about 90 seconds later, and they limped over to the corner of the stadium to applaud the thousands of drenched fans who have followed them for the last 11 days.

"It's a huge achievement for our team to come through the group and qualify," said U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann, formerly a star player and coach for the German team. "Tricky" is how Klinsmann described the match. "It wasn't too easy to handle mentally."

It was tougher physically. Playing in a downpour before a sold-out crowd at Arena Pernambuco and with millions watching back home, the Americans bent, then broke, giving up the game's only goal in the 55th minute. They survived on the strength of last week's last-minute win against Ghana, as well as their heart-wrenching tie with Portugal Sunday night, ultimately progressing thanks to Germany's 4-0 rout of Portugal that began Group G play.

After a scoreless first half that felt like a game of survival for the U.S., Germany's Thomas Muller broke the draw with a rocket from just inside the penalty area in the 55th minute. That answered any pregame questions that the Germans might take it easy in the second half and settle for a tie, which also would have won them the group.

The goal occurred just moments before Ghana drew even with Portugal, bring the Black Stars within a goal of sending the U.S. home. But Cristiano Ronaldo—whose brilliant cross in the final seconds on Sunday prevented a seemingly certain U.S. victory—scored in the 80th minute.

For chunks of the match, the Germans moved the ball back and forth across the field at will, sending defenders to join the attack, which made it seem like they were playing with a 12th man. Whenever an American got the ball, the Germans quickly surrounded him with two or three men.

The U.S. managed just one shot on goal for the entire match. Just getting into German territory looked like a victory; Germany dominated possession, holding the ball for 63% of the game.

And yet, when the U.S. looked up at the scoreboard at halftime, they were somehow in a deadlock, and just a goal behind when it was over.

"We were the dominating team during the entire match," said Germany coach Joachim Löw, a close friend and protégé of Klinsmann. "We were very organized, very aggressive. Until the very last moment, we didn't give them a chance to score."

The result was a strategic victory for the U.S., which somehow emerged from a group that also included Portugal, the world's fourth-ranked team, and Ghana, which has a history of thwarting the U.S.

Ahead lies Belgium, which won all three of its group-stage games. Team USA doesn't sound intimidated.

"It's nice to play big teams and big players," said Jermaine Jones, the German-American midfielder who has been the team's best player in Brazil. He and his teammates, he says, "are hungry."

ENLARGE

U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, right, and teammates celebrate qualifying for the knockout round after a 1-0 loss to Germany.
Associated Press

A girl once told me baseball was the stupidest game because only two people played (pitcher/batter) and the rest had nothing to do. A fair conclusion when you've watched 3 or 4 games in your life. However, she missed quite a bit, and there's no amount of explanation that could've made any difference that day.

When I'm asked about sports I don't enjoy (like Hockey or Football), I think of her to avoid embarrassing myself with grand statements about thing I don't really understand.

the US will not earn a trophy from their loss to Germany, and they did deserve to place second in their group.

The issue I have with soccer, is the low number of scoring opportunities. More shots on the goal would make the game more interesting. The main reason it is so difficult to score, the penalties for interfering with an offensive play are not significant. Players should get a free kick on the goalie on every penalty against an offensive play within the other teams side of the field. Currently there is no real penalty for knocking a player down when he is advancing the ball. Even a yellow card does not create a scoring opportunity. Players receiving a yellow card should need to sit out in a penalty box for 5 minutes, like in indoor soccer.

I was getting really worried when Ghana started pounding Portugal in the second half. But thanks Ronaldo, we are finally able to overcome this tiny African country with per capita GDP of 1,600 bucks - exactly what I paid for an old beat up Ford Escort years ago in graduate school.

That the US can advance after two losses is exactly what's wrong with this soccer tournament. In no other sport that I know of is this possible. Even in double elimination tournaments like the college softball and baseball tournaments - which are exciting - if you lose twice you pack your bags and go home. I admire the skill and commitment of the athletes (except for the well-remarked flopping) but, come on, losers don't advance.

Unfortunately, one must view and enjoy soccer in the context of a world competition or countries/clubs competing with each other. That's why soccer people talk of a team trying to "impose their will" during the match. It's like a battle or a boxing match.

On the face of it, soccer's pure entertainment value is relatively limited in comparison with other sports where scoring and changes in which team is leading occurs with far greater frequency.

The world views soccer through the lens of the former while we in the US have only viewed in through the lens of the latter.

Soccer is interesting to soccer players obviously. I must say that otherwise it is tedious. I like Cricket too, but have to admit that watching test matches is too long and tedious. It's better to do something else within earshot till you hear the roar, then come back and watch the replays. That way you don't miss anything or waste your time. Probably the same strategy would work with soccer.

The difficulty for most of the US in enjoying soccer (esp World Cup) is because of two main factors.

One, most countries view soccer as a form of nationalism and a means to become viewed as a country that is no different than any country other than in soccer terms. The US rarely, if ever, view team sports with any widespread nationalism. The only time that comes to mind was 1980 and the Miracle on Ice v USSR.

Two, the US has many domestic sports, several of which are very big in terms of economics. Most countries only have 1 major sport or perhaps 2 in markets that are typically smaller than the US.

One of the issues I have with soccer, there are so many penalties. I understand why, since there is usually no real penalty for illegal contact , thus it usually is the correct play. When I played soccer i quickly realized i was able defend against much better players by knocking them down. even a yellow card is not much of a penalty, since you keep playing.

They need to give a more significant penalty, either put players in a penalty box or give the victim a penalty shot on the goalie for each infraction. then we would have less tackling and have the opportunity to see more fancy footwork and more scores.

Imagine if the NBA did not give free throws after a fowl ? this is why it is hard to score in soccer, knocking players down, is the correct play most of the time.

at minimum the ref should keep track of the fowls and after a team has 10 they should start giving the victim a penalty shot on the goalie.

If folks get tweaked up by watching this 'sport' go ahead, but quit preaching to us dolts that can't get frothed up about it. When a team can continuously advance despite losses you know the concept is flawed.

Read Ann Coulter's latest column to put some perspective on it....it's pretty much how America feels about soccer.

An interesting idea that was mentioned many years ago was to have corner kicks from balls going out within 18 yards of the goal line. That would create many more corner kicks and thus more scoring opportunities.

I also think NASL tried a few changes to the rules like settling games with penalties taken from 36 yards out and dribbling in- similar to a hockey penalty shot. That was exciting.

Today, while watching the game (or is it a match?), I took a break and went out front to pull poison ivy from the pachysandra along my front wall. Not that I harbor any dislike for soccer but attacking the poison ivy seemed more exciting.

"most countries view soccer as a form of nationalism and a means to become viewed as a country that is no different than any country...."

And THAT is exactly why soccer is such a bore, for there is a huge difference in countries, period. If the locals are trying to equate their often miserable selection in government and consequent lousy lives with how well they do in kicking a ball around against far more advanced countries economically they are in delusion. Quit kicking the ball and start working on making a better country for yourselves.

@John Mcgee John, unlike many commenting here, you do have a good understanding of the nuances of the game. There are several other factors that could set a team apart such as ball control skills of the players, how good a team is able to use space, speed of the counter attacks and number of attacking center halfs. The illegal contact has come down a lot in recent years though.

One of the reasons that FIFA has to consider the rule changes very carefully is the burden it would put on officiating a match. The game is played at every level across the world and often in setups where greater complexity in officiating matches would be unwelcome.

No doubt your choice was more exciting and interesting! And the outcome less obvious, but you might have chosen to REALLY spice up the day with a harrowing contest of rock scissors and paper with someone!

@Partha Sarkar good point, you don't want too many rules which would require more refs. but they do call a lot of fouls. when a team reaches 10 fouls they should start rewarding penalty kicks. this would help reduce the illegal contact and increase scoring

Robert, whether you like Ann Coulter or not, she is a good writer with a humorous outlook on life, and not always political. Instead of an ad hominem attack why not spend five minutes and have a few laughs at one of the best satirical pieces I've read in a long time. Even if you are a fanatic about soccer it would bring a few smiles and chuckles .... give it a try, and lighten up.

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